Researchers say that people using dating websites are less likely to pursue a relationship with someone called Mandy, Justin, Chantal or Kevin, because the names are all associated with troublemaking.

Alexanders, Charlottes and Jacobs fare far better, they said.

Named and shamed: Harry Enfield character Kevin (left) epitomises the bad image bestowed on people of that name; not even Justin Bieber (right) has popularised his first name. Both names are associated with trouble-making

Psychologists at the Humboldt
University in Berlin reached the conclusions after testing how often
47,000 dating site members would open messages from English-sounding
suitors.

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Those from people with ‘less attractive’ first names received significantly fewer clicks.

‘Mails sent from an Alexander were clicked on 102 per cent more times than those from a Kevin,’ said the study’s leader, Jochen Gebauer.

‘Single people would seem to prefer to remain alone than meet up with someone called Kevin or Chantal.’

THE BEST AND WORST NAMES FOR ONLINE DATING

WORST

BEST

Kevin

Jacob

Justin

Alexander

Marvin

Charlotte

Dennis

Emma

Mandy

Hannah

Celina

Max

Chantal

Marie

Jacqueline

Peter

Mark

A further two studies involving around 4,000 and 6,000 people being offered a greater selection of names produced similar results.

The researchers said it was ‘likely’ that people with names that carry negative connotations would suffer more setbacks in life than those with positively regarded names, affecting their confidence and self-esteem into the bargain.

Two years ago, researchers at the University of Oldenburg conducted a study proving that teachers showed prejudice against children with 'lower class' names such as Kevin or Mandy.

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Potential partners less likely to click on 'unattractive names' on dating websites